Trudeau said it will be up to provinces to implement the price through either a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, with the provinces keeping the revenue. But Ottawa is prepared to act if they don’t.

Alberta’s NDP government will introduce its own economy-wide carbon tax based on the equivalent of $20 per tonne of carbon emissions on Jan. 1, rising to $30 in 2018, with no further increases planned at the moment.

In a statement, Notley said that “in principle” Alberta supports a national price in that it “ensures that we are all making the same effort, and it ensures that no one is penalized economically.”

“As far as we’re concerned, we can’t be talking about the sort of prices that got rolled out today until we get a commitment from this federal government that they’re going to move on this fundamentally important economic piece that Albertans need,” Notley told reporters in Edmonton.

“We need Canada to have our backs. And we need to get a pipeline.”

The NDP introduced last fall a sweeping climate strategy, which includes the carbon tax, in part to win public support for new oilsands pipelines, which have faced fierce environmental opposition due to the carbon footprint of the northern Alberta megaprojects. Pipelines to new markets are seen by the government as key to bolstering Alberta’s economy, which has been battered by slumping oil prices since 2014.

The Trudeau government must make a decision on Kinder Morgan’s planned expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline to the Pacific coast by December. As well, the proposed Energy East line to the Atlantic is at the beginning of the regulatory process.

In a statement, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said Notley had set the bar far too low and asserted his party would never support either a provincial or federal carbon tax.

“Premier Notley should not be offering any support for this plan, period,” said Jean.

“Tying a single pipeline approval to taxation sets a dangerous precedent, and Alberta needs to make it clear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this will never be acceptable. Our province’s economic interests should not be held hostage by politicians in Ottawa.”

But the premier’s pro-pipeline position drew an equally scathing response from Greenpeace Canada.

“It’s incredible that the Alberta government would withhold its support for an action to combat climate change until it gets a new pipeline that further accelerates the problem,” Alberta organizer Mike Hudema said in a statement.

“The Alberta government needs to realize that new pipelines aren’t compatible with a climate safe future and there’s no climate leadership to be found in building one.”

“I understand that the premier has suggested that any national carbon policy must be tied to the building of energy infrastructure,” he told reporters Monday. “Good for her. This is exactly right. Climate change has to be done in conjunction with the building of infrastructure to make sure we can get our energy to market.”

But Nenshi, who has raised concerns about the provincial carbon levy’s impact on the city, is worried about the $50 figure attached to the federal plan.

“Wow, that’s high,” he said. “If that goes up to $50, then the impact on people’s property taxes and or transit fares and other user fees will be extraordinary.”

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said Notley’s strong words were surprising, given that she has been one of Trudeau’s closest provincial allies, and the federal government appeared to be preparing to approve Trans Mountain.

He said Notley has either received a negative signal around the Kinder Morgan pipeline or is simply trying to give Ottawa a further push.

“There’s no way that she’s going to backtrack on her climate strategy, so is this an artificial tiff with the federal government?” said Bratt.

“Traditionally, in Alberta politics, if you get into trouble, you blame the feds.”

Notley’s climate plan also calls for a cap on oilsands emissions, an accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power and methane emission reductions.

Alberta’s incoming carbon tax, which will join an existing carbon levy on large industrial emitters, is expected to raise $9.6 billion over five years that will be allocated to measures such as green transit programs and renewable energy projects, as well as rebates for two-thirds of Alberta households.

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